This is part of a year-long series. Find out more about this series by reading the introductory post here.

Mark 3:7–10, 20–21 Ministering to the Masses

“Jesus departed with His disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him because they heard about everything He was doing. Then He told His disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, so the crowd would not crush Him. Since He had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward Him to touch Him….

Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.””

Jesus constantly poured Himself out for everyone, even to the point where His family thought He was doing too much.  His ministry was exhausting, uncomfortable, and inconvenient because He met people in their desperation.  He had people following Him from the entire region. They went wherever He went- even to His home.  Jesus’ ministry was not easy. It was not neat. It was not scheduled around His comfort.  He completely emptied Himself for those around Him, and then He filled Himself back up by going off on His own to pray and worship the Father.

Our ministries must follow the same pattern. Working in ministry is to serve others, and we must remember to assume a posture of service as we do the work of Christ. He poured out, so we must pour out. He sought seclusion with the Father afterwords, so we should seek seclusion with the Father as well. Finally, it is important for us to always be prepared to be inconvenienced and exhausted because the work of ministry is to tend to people’s desperation.

Mark 6:30-31, 49-52 The 12 Apostles Return, 5,000 Are Fed, Jesus Walks on Water

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat….

When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.”

The second half of chapter 6 covers a lot.  The Apostles return from preaching about Jesus in neighboring towns. Jesus feeds 5,000 people and walks on water, and more people are healed when they arrive at Gennesaret. 

What drew my attention here was the Apostles.  Jesus sends them on a preaching tour in groups of two.  They went from town to town without carrying any supplies, and they preached a message that some people strongly opposed.  They returned from this difficult trip, and Jesus told them to go to a remote place to rest.  However, a large crowd followed them, and made it impossible for them to rest – they were not even able to eat!  Their would-be down time was interrupted by a massive crowd, and then they got into a boat and battled the wind and the waves from a storm.  Jesus came to them by walking on the water, and they were astounded because they did not understand about the loaves, and their hearts were hardened. 

Jesus walking on water astounded them because they did not understand about the loaves?  Jesus walking on water was not astounding in and of itself?  Did they completely miss both of these miracles – the feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water?  Or, did they miss the miracles’ testimony about who Jesus was?  Their hearts were hardened, and I imagine that was why they missed the miracles.  But why were their hearts hardened?  Could it be because of exhaustion and agitation?  They were not able to rest when they needed it.  The crowd demanded more from them than they had, and, then, the sea pummeled them.  If exhaustion and agitation caused their hearts to harden, then we must be extra careful to ensure that we do not allow the circumstances and demands of our ministry to get in the way of us recognizing and experiencing the works of God.

I’m still working through these questions and observations, so I can’t draw a hard and fast conclusion at this time. However, I do feel comfortable saying the following: if the disciples missed the awe of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish and walking on water, then we can miss the things God accomplishes in our midst.  The effects of ministry are too weighty for us to disengage and miss something God is doing among us.